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Post by jjas on Mar 27, 2024 14:25:56 GMT -5
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Post by esshup on Mar 27, 2024 20:58:34 GMT -5
The biggest problem with deer hunting in Wisconsin, especially the northern zone is the horrible deer numbers. Wolves, bears and a couple of bad winters really put the hurt on deer numbers. They haven't bounced back. I haven't hunted in Wisconsin for 2 years due to the cost of going and not seeing deer.
Hunting the same ground. Historically us 4 hunters would average 50% - 75% success rate or higher. Last 4 or 5 years I think now 6 hunters have shot a total of 2 deer combined. The deer population flat out isn't there.
The property is 1,700 acres. A mixture of mature woods and tamarack swamps. With light snow on the ground we may cut 1 or 2 sets of tracks in the 200-300 acres that we typically hunt. You'd think there were more deer there than that, but we just don't see them.
I stopped hunting there because of not seeing the deer, tags costing close to $200 then all the other costs associated in hunting close to 10 hours away from home.
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Post by Mack Apiary Bees on Mar 28, 2024 7:08:48 GMT -5
I think a lot of the decline is from the decline in families. How many times do you see in church or anywhere a family of 3 or more. Four or more is getting very rare and over 5 is almost extinct.
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Post by greghopper on Mar 28, 2024 7:26:35 GMT -5
So, is the national whitetail deer harvest up or down or are we killing same amount or more Deer with less hunters?
Doesn't look like we have a problem in Indiana killing deer....
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Post by budd on Mar 28, 2024 8:44:46 GMT -5
The biggest problem with deer hunting in Wisconsin, especially the northern zone is the horrible deer numbers. Wolves, bears and a couple of bad winters really put the hurt on deer numbers. They haven't bounced back. I haven't hunted in Wisconsin for 2 years due to the cost of going and not seeing deer. Hunting the same ground. Historically us 4 hunters would average 50% - 75% success rate or higher. Last 4 or 5 years I think now 6 hunters have shot a total of 2 deer combined. The deer population flat out isn't there. The property is 1,700 acres. A mixture of mature woods and tamarack swamps. With light snow on the ground we may cut 1 or 2 sets of tracks in the 200-300 acres that we typically hunt. You'd think there were more deer there than that, but we just don't see them. I stopped hunting there because of not seeing the deer, tags costing close to $200 then all the other costs associated in hunting close to 10 hours away from home. This is the worst year I've seen up here for deer numbers as well. The day I posted pictures of those sap collection bags in the small game refuge, I drove around and thru the whole refuge (3600 acres) with a two day snow on the ground and I cut 5 deer tracks, 9 wolf tracks, 1 coyote track and several fox. We finally have a group that started up last fall and they are making a LOT of noise and getting attention on the wolf problem we have in northern minnesota. Problem we have is our governor has said "there will be no wolf season on my watch". Hopefully Hunters4Hunters can change that! We shall see but I believe it's to late even if we do get a season on wolves in the next few years. I think the wolves will thin themselves out by eliminating the deer herd. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Mar 28, 2024 9:05:46 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer
It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore.
When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone.
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Post by budd on Mar 28, 2024 9:20:22 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore. When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone. Agree, growing up a farm kid I had more private land than I could hunt. When I moved up here 25 years ago, I still had more private ground open to myself and my family than I could hunt. I now only have a handfull of spots. All the land has changed hands. I had one farmer that would call me every time he purchased new land with woods, I stopped to see him 5-6 years ago and he had me talk with his son (that I was friends with in school), he offered to lease me land...LOL |
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Post by jtkelly on Mar 28, 2024 9:46:52 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore. When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone. Just look at what has changed since the hunting was GOOD and change it back. Last in, first out. |
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Post by greghopper on Mar 28, 2024 10:26:56 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore. When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone. Just look at what has changed since the hunting was GOOD and change it back. Last in, first out. Deer hunting isn’t going backward anytime soon…. Either get on the Train or jump off! |
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Post by kicker on Mar 28, 2024 11:35:02 GMT -5
I lived in Wisconsin from 1994 thru 1997. I hunted up around Cable, Wisconsin with a close buddy. It was nothing to see 25-40 deer in the woods. We hunted the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Roughly starting around 1996 Wis DNR decided to reintroduce the native Timber Wolf to the region. Every hunter objected but yet the plan still went thru. As the years passed by, we kept seeing less and less deer. But, Timber wolf are prolific. From the initial introduction of 6 breeding pairs ( I think ) to today, now their are 40 some packs of wolves through out the northern part of the state. Typically if I see a deer in the woods now, it is normally doing mach 1 because being chased by a wolf. One thing is for certain, Timber Wolves are huge. When they start howling, ohh my god. it is an awesome sound to witness. I dont buy a hunting license any more as the cost out weighs the benefit. I just go up and hang out with my deer hunting buddies who are state residents.
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Post by jtkelly on Mar 28, 2024 12:10:27 GMT -5
Deer hunting isn’t going backward anytime soon…. Either get on the Train or jump off! Read the thread. So off the cliff it is. |
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Post by jjas on Mar 28, 2024 12:37:07 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore. When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone. I think the above, plus the fact that boomers are aging out and aren't being replaced pretty well sums it up... |
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Post by greghopper on Mar 28, 2024 12:45:02 GMT -5
Deer hunting isn’t going backward anytime soon…. Either get on the Train or jump off! Read the thread. So off the cliff it is. Why hasn’t the Deer Harvest number gone off the cliff? |
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Post by greghopper on Mar 28, 2024 12:48:19 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore. When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone. I think the above, plus the fact that boomers are aging out and aren't being replaced pretty well sums it up... As long as the Deer Harvest isn’t falling off and the herd is under control it’s a mute point.The Deer aren’t dying from old age in most areas. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Mar 28, 2024 14:47:47 GMT -5
I think our (Indiana) and numerous other states biggest problem is access to hunting areas that have deer It’s pretty well a pay to play pastime anymore. When I first started deer hunting one could deer hunt just about anywhere. Those times are long gone. Just look at what has changed since the hunting was GOOD and change it back. Last in, first out. I’ve adapted and will hunt deer until I can’t physically do it anymore. Most died in the wool deer hunters like me have or will also adapt. The casual weekend only deer hunters are the ones dropping out..and unfortunately any kids they might have will never take it up. Any loss of deer hunters, casual or died in the wool is not good. |
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Post by Woody Williams on Mar 28, 2024 14:51:02 GMT -5
I think the above, plus the fact that boomers are aging out and aren't being replaced pretty well sums it up... As long as the Deer Harvest isn’t falling off and the herd is under control it’s a mute point.The Deer aren’t dying from old age in most areas. Not a mute point when the DNR is having a decline in revenue even if the herd is stable. |
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Post by freedomhunter on Mar 28, 2024 15:15:23 GMT -5
I’ve adapted and will hunt deer until I can’t physically do it anymore. Most died in the wool deer hunters like me have or will also adapt. The casual weekend only deer hunters are the ones dropping out..and unfortunately any kids they might have will never take it up. Any loss of deer hunters, casual or died in the wool is not good. You are too mean to stop! |
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Post by greghopper on Mar 28, 2024 15:30:09 GMT -5
As long as the Deer Harvest isn’t falling off and the herd is under control it’s a mute point.The Deer aren’t dying from old age in most areas. Not a mute point when the DNR is having a decline in revenue even if the herd is stable. I agree there has to be a happy medium…. Or price increases! If you’re killing around the same amount of Deer someone is using a Tag! |
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Post by mattfinney on Mar 29, 2024 10:33:25 GMT -5
Does anyone know how KY resident deer tag prices compare to IN resident deer tag prices?
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Post by mattfinney on Mar 29, 2024 10:34:43 GMT -5
I will only believe there is a lack of deer hunters when farmers start knocking on hunters' doors, offering to pay them to come deer hunt their land.
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